RoadVitals

1989 Ford Tempo Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Aug 22, 2003
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
13%
of 124 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1989 Ford Tempo submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 22, 2003

HEAD COVERS ATTACHMENT ON THE HEADLIGHTS CAUSE LESS VISIBILITY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. INTERMITTENTLY THE LIGHT WILL APPEAR TO BE NORMAL. FAILURE IS UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID
10034424
Incident
Aug 22, 2003
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 22, 1999

CONSUMER STATES THE PLASTIC COVER AROUND THE HEADLIGHTS IS CORRODED AND IT WILL NOT LET LIGHT SHINE THROUGH AND THE CONSUMER FEELS ITS VERY UNSAFE

NHTSA ID
851544
Incident
Oct 20, 1999
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 27, 1999

PLASTIC COVER OF HEADLIGHT WILL NOT STAY CLEAR AFTER 5-6 YRS, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY . *AK

NHTSA ID
843565
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 8, 1999

HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM, CAN NOT SEE AT NIGHT WITH THEM ON. SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHER TEMPOS.

NHTSA ID
704155
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 19, 1998

HEAD LIGHT COVERS ARE PLASTIC AND CAN'T BE CLEANED DUE TO DESIGN BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GLASS.

NHTSA ID
541147
Exterior lightingSteering
Filed Dec 30, 1997

STEERING COLUMN FAILED.

NHTSA ID
527154
Exterior lightingSeat belts
Filed Apr 22, 1997

NYLON STRAP THAT RETRACTS SHOULDER BELT FAILED.

NHTSA ID
516716
Incident
Jan 1, 1995
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 24, 1997

OVER A PERIOD OF TIME THE HEADLIGHT LENS CHANGES TO A YELLOWISH COLOR, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *AK

NHTSA ID
809155
Incident
Oct 1, 1996
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 4, 1997

HEADLIGHTS ARE LEAKING WATER AND NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH. *AK

NHTSA ID
809650
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 22, 1997

WHILE DRIVING, LIGHTS WERE VERY DIM; VEHICLE'S HEADLAMP AREA GOT WET, HAD HEADLAMP CHANGED; LIGHT HOLDER CELL IS MELTING; CA NOT KEEP LIGHT AREA FROM GETTING WET; BEEN TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES; DEALER CANNOT FIND/FIX PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
808006
Incident
Jan 21, 1997
Exterior lightingSeat belts
Filed Dec 17, 1996

AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILED.

NHTSA ID
512973
Incident
Jan 1, 1995
EngineExterior lighting
Filed Nov 22, 1996

CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED DUE TO RUST.

NHTSA ID
601957
Incident
Oct 16, 1996
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 30, 1996

MOISTURE IN THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT, CAUSING INADEQUATE LIGHTING.

NHTSA ID
510825
Incident
Oct 20, 1996
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 23, 1996

THE HEADLIGHT SEEMS TO HAVE WATER BUILD UP AND IT IS ALL BUILT TOGETHER. WANT SOMEONE TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. CAN NOT SEE. TT

NHTSA ID
978028
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 28, 1995

THE HEADLIGHT SEEMS TO HAVE WATER BUILD UP AND IT IS ALL BUILT TOGETHER. WANT SOMEONE TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM (CAN NOT SEE). TT

NHTSA ID
977100
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 25, 1995

WATER LEAKS INTO THE HEADLIGHTS CAUSING CONDENSATION AND DIM LIGHTS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ID
964341
Incident
Apr 24, 1995

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Electrical32Engine26Seat belts20Brakes17Driver assistance8Steering8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .